Editorial: Six good candidates vying for three seats on GRCC trustee board

Eight candidates are vying for three, six-year seats on the Grand Rapids Community College Board of Trustees in the May 5 election. Kent County residents are fortunate to have a ballot that is chock full of good candidates. The next few years will be a challenge as trustees grapple with shrinking financial resources, increasing enrollment and dwindling space on campus. GRCC needs trustees who can make tough choices about tuition, programs and policy. Trustees must also do an effective job of selling the college's mission and its needs to residents in outlying areas of Kent County. The college's first tax hike requests in 16 years were voted down twice two years ago due largely to "no" votes from suburban and rural communities.

In a race full of competent candidates voters can stick with proven veterans or shake things up by picking someone who might bring fresh eyes to old problems. In our eyes, six of the eight candidates would be capable trustees. Voters and the college would be well served by any of them. Trustee Gary Schenk is not seeking re-election, guaranteeing at least one new board member.

The two incumbents seeking re-election, ELLEN JAMES and RICHARD VERBURG, have served since 1991 and 1997, respectively. Ms. James, 66, and Mr. Verburg, 56, were recently involved in picking a new leader for the college. That choice, Steven Ender, appears to be a stellar replacement for former GRCC president Juan Olivarez. Both incumbents say opportunities for future growth for the college are tied to partnerships in the community.

Mr. Verburg, a former General Motors employee, is a proponent of satellite college classes being taught in area high schools. He also believes the vacant downtown Davenport College campus could be a valuable asset in accommodating GRCC's long-term space needs.

Ms. James, a retired City of Grand Rapids employee, is passionate about GRCC being an institution open to all student wanting to pursue their educational goals.

The other top candidates are: ROBERT BENNETT, NADINE KLEIN, RICHARD SCHILO and MILINDA YSASI.

Mr. Bennett, 60, is a GRCC alum and a former Wyoming Public Schools trustee. He was a catalyst in updating that school district's curriculum and instructional materials. He believes the academic and vocational education provided at GRCC will be pivotal in helping this community recover economically. Mr. Bennett is a technical manager at GE Aviation Systems.

Nadine Klein, 45, is an attorney and former Kent County commissioner. Ms. Klein says it's important to have academic freedom on college campuses and cautioned against trustees using their position to push a personal or moral agenda. She supported both failed millage requests, but doesn't believe the time is right to again ask voters for more money.

Richard Schilo, 70, is a retired college instructor and administrator. He worked for 30 years, 15 as a business teacher, and 15 in administration at Westmoreland County Community College in Pennsylvania. Mr. Schilo is relatively new to the area, having moved to Grandville just two years ago. But he has done his homework on GRCC and its issues. He believes GRCC needs to establish more centers in outlying areas of Kent County to dispel the notion that it's an institution primarily for Grand Rapids.

Milinda Ysasi, 29, works at Cascade Engineering. She is a smart, competent candidate who is eager to serve the community. Ms. Ysasi believes GRCC should be looking to grow regionally and offering classes in cities such as Holland. She said the college may need to assess its programs and shed those that are not relevant to today's needs. Her youth could be an asset on a board that serves college-age students.

Also running are Richard Ryskamp, a physician; and Ken Smith, a retired GRCC instructor.

Mr. Ryskamp, 53, seems ill suited to be a member of a board he believes pursues offensive policies. He voted against both of GRCC's tax requests and says he actively encouraged others to do the same. He has challenged the trustee board over its academic freedom policy and for inviting an openly gay speaker to this year's Diversity Lecture Series. A college campus is a place where students are exposed to new and different ideas. Mr. Ryskamp's weakness in supporting that basic principle, and failure to back past GRCC tax proposals, would make him a poor representative of the college.

Mr. Smith, 81 was an automotive technology instructor at GRCC for 31 years. He falls short of the other candidates in his failure to support past GRCC tax proposals.

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